Our History

Today's success and breakthroughs are built on a remarkable history of innovation

Our award-winning products like Emerson and Sensi thermostats aren’t just built on solid engineering and cutting-edge technology. They’re built on White-Rodgers’ unmatched 80-year history of setting HVACR milestones.

White-Rodgers is formed.

After coming up with a new type of control for refrigeration, James Rodgers and Chesterfield “Doc” White form White-Rodgers.

Supporting the war effort.

Production of White-Rodgers and ALCO valves and controls is diverted to produce military grade controls for aircraft in WWII.

Keeping up with the housing boom.

Rapid growth in home construction causes rapid growth in White-Rodgers sales of space-heating products and oil burner and clothes dryer controls.

The first of its kind.

Research and development efforts lead to the production of the first White-Rodgers programmable thermostat.

Sparking innovation

White Rodgers’ hot surface ignition furnace control module is the industry’s first micro-computer-based ignition control.

PROD-WR-History-Nitride ignition control

Making great products even better.

White-Rodgers introduces an improved, easy-to-use programmable thermostat and the first nitride ignition controls.

A new state-of-the-art home

White-Rodgers moves to the Emerson campus and takes advantage of its cutting edge research labs and specialized testing equipment.

Meeting tomorrow’s demands today.

Products like the NXT thermal expansion valve for R-410A systems continue to set the pace with environmentally friendly equipment.

Coming together.

Emerson’s Flow Controls and White-Rodgers merger forms one of the industry’s most extensive lines of heating, AC and refrigeration controls.

A storied past. An even better future.

Our journey to becoming the industry standard for innovation was a long one. And it’s produced a lot of award-winning products, from Emerson and Sensi thermostats to Emerson flow controls and valves to White-Rodgers heating and appliance components. But this journey is far from over. And our commitment to finding better solutions is stronger than ever. Because while our yesterday was impressive, it’s nothing compared to what we have in store for tomorrow.

Learn More